The world health reports

The World Health Report 2008 - Primary Health Care: Now More Than Ever
Why a renewal of primary health care (PHC), and why now, more than ever? The
immediate answer is the palpable demand for it from Member States – not just
from health professionals, but from the political arena as well. Globalization is
putting the social cohesion of many countries under stress, and health systems,
as key constituents of the architecture of contemporary societies, are clearly not
performing as well as they could and as they should. People are increasingly
impatient with the inability of health services to deliver levels of national
coverage that meet stated demands and changing needs, and with their failure to
provide services in ways that correspond to their expectations. Few would
disagree that health systems need to respond better – and faster – to the
challenges of a changing world. PHC can do that.
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The world health report 2007 - A safer future: global public health
security in the 21st century
The World Health Report 2007 - A safer future: global public health security in the
21st century marks a turning point in the history of public health, and signals
what could be one of the biggest advances in health security in half a century. It
shows how the world is at increasing risk of disease outbreaks, epidemics,
industrial accidents, natural disasters and other health emergencies which can
rapidly become threats to global public health security. The report explains how
the revised International Health Regulations (2005), which came into force this
year, helps countries to work together to identify risks and act to contain and
control them. The regulations are needed because no single country, regardless of capability or
wealth, can protect itself from outbreaks and other hazards without the cooperation of others. The
report says the prospect of a safer future is within reach - and that this is both a collective
aspiration and a mutual responsibility.
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The world health report 2006 - working together for health

The World Health Report 2006 - Working together for health contains an expert
assessment of the current crisis in the global health workforce and ambitious
proposals to tackle it over the next ten years, starting immediately. The report
reveals an estimated shortage of almost 4.3 million doctors, midwives, nurses
and support workers worldwide. The shortage is most severe in the poorest
countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where health workers are most
needed. Focusing on all stages of the health workers' career lifespan from entry
to health training, to job recruitment through to retirement, the report lays out a
ten-year action plan in which countries can build their health workforces, with the
support of global partners.
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The World Health Report 2005 – Make Every Mother and Child Count
The World Health Report 2005 – Make Every Mother and Child Count, says that
this year almost 11 million children under five years of age will die from causes
that are largely preventable. Among them are 4 million babies who will not survive
the first month of life. At the same time, more than half a million women will die in
pregnancy, childbirth or soon after. The report says that reducing this toll in line
with the Millennium Development Goals depends largely on every mother and
every child having the right to access to health care from pregnancy through
childbirth, the neonatal period and childhood.
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The world health report 2004 - changing history
This year's report, changing history, calls for a comprehensive HIV/AIDS strategy
that links prevention, treatment, care and long-term support. At a crucial
moment in the pandemic's history, the international community has an
unprecedented opportunity to alter its course and simultaneously fortify health
systems for the enduring benefit of all.
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The world health report 2003 - shaping the future

This year's report examines the global health situation and some of the major
threats to health in today's world. Drawing on many examples, the report suggests
that major improvements in health for everybody are within reach, and that
progress depends on collaboration among governments, international institutions,
the private sector and civil society to build stronger health systems.
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The world health report 2002 - reducing risks, promoting

healthy life
The 2002 report describes the amount of disease, disability and death in the
world today that can be attributed to a selected number of the most important
risks to human health. It also shows how much this burden could lowered in the
next 20 years if the same risk factors were reduced.
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The world health report 2001 - mental health: new

understanding, new hope
The 2001 report focuses on the fact that mental health – neglected for far too
long – is crucial to the overall well-being of individuals, societies and countries.
The report advocates policies that are urgently needed to ensure that stigma and
discrimination are broken down and that effective prevention and treatment are
put in place.
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The world health report 2000 - health systems: improving performance

This report examines and compares aspects of health systems around the world.
It provides conceptual insights into the complex factors that explain how health
systems perform, and offers practical advice on how to assess performance and
achieve improvements with available resources.
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The world health report 1999 - making a difference

This report describes the achievements of the 20th century and
the challenges that are its legacy, and suggests approaches to
making a difference for better health in the 21st century. The
report says health should be at the heart of the global
development agenda and stresses WHO's commitment to that
objective.
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The world health report 1998 - life in the 21st century: a vision for all
In the year of WHO's 50th anniversary, this report examines health trends over
the past five decades, the lessons learnt during those years, and predicts how life
expectancy, health conditions and the tools to improve them will evolve up to the
year 2025.
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The world health report 1997 - conquering suffering, enriching humanity

The focus of this report is on noncommunicable diseases. Together with infectious
diseases, they form a double burden for developing countries, and are increasing
rapidly among poorer populations. The report calls for integrated, comprehensive
action that tackles all the determinants of ill-health.
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The world health report 1996 - fighting disease, fostering development

The 1996 report focuses on infectious diseases - old and new - which together
represent the world's leading cause of premature death. Examining these
diseases by modes of transmission, the report calls for renewed efforts and extra
resources to combat them and thereby help to reduce poverty and foster
development.
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The world health report 1995 - bridging the gaps

The first World Health Report says that poverty wields a destructive and often
deadly influence at every stage of human life. There are widening gaps between
rich and poor, and between those with and without access to health care around
the world. The report describes WHO's efforts to help bridge the gaps in global
health.
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